RAY Murray knew there was something different when he tried to park outside his home following a half-hour shopping trip.

He just couldn’t put his finger on what it was...

Then the penny dropped.

During his brief excursion, double yellow lines had been painted on the 60 foot strip that is the only parking space available for residents of the Alford Close, Rednal, flats.

It was, say residents, a rare gap in the ribbon of restrictions that meander through the estate.

They, however, have got their (double yellow) lines crossed, insists Birmingham City Council. There should have been restrictions there – they simply faded with time.

Now 47-year-old Ray and neighbours, including Yvonne Hill who suffers from crumbling bones, are demanding a re-think. Ray is refusing to move his Rover until the city council ‘see sense’.

“It is diabolical,” said Ray. “We’re totally cut-off. They have now covered the whole estate with double yellow lines. There has always been space for three cars outside the flats and we had no idea this was happening.

“I broke my leg a few years ago and still suffer from it. Now, if I’m lucky enough to find a space, I face one hell of a walk to my flat.

He added: “They don’t need yellow lines outside here, that’s the annoying part. Why they’ve done it is beyond me. You can clearly see where the gap has been filled in.

“Yellow lines were originally put down all over the place after complaints workers at the nearby Longbridge plant were clogging up streets. We don’t have that problem now.”

Ray, who has lived in the close for two years, was so angry he rang the council and House of Commons. He is still waiting for answers.

Yvonne, 57, says she received short shrift when complaining about the latest yellow peril. She’s parked her Renault Clio outside the flats for years.

“I’ve been told to park my car on Bristol Road, but I wouldn’t be able to see it from my flat. It would be an open invitation to vandals.

“There is a car park nearby, but it has only seven spaces. There’s no chance of getting on there.

“I went out, came back and found yellow lines over our parking spot. It’s unbelievable.”

A council spokesman said records show parking was banned on the stretch in 1993. Highway partners Amey were simply ‘re-instating’ the restrictions as part of a 25 year programme of maintenance.

Residents have been parking illegally for years, but because the lines were not visible no action was taken.